No plans for 27th Constitutional Amendment, clarifies information minister

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed any speculation regarding a potential 27th constitutional amendment just days after the government secured a two-thirds majority for a constitutional package in parliament. 

Speaking to a local news channel on Monday, Tarar stated, “No deliberation was held on the 27th constitutional amendment in any government or legal committee meetings.”

This clarification comes after reports emerged following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Lahore on Saturday. 

Sources had indicated that the leaders discussed a proposed amendment focusing on provincial rights and expressed a consensus on addressing concerns raised by the provinces. Tarar, however, said that no draft or discussions regarding such an amendment had occurred at any official level.

He described the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment as a significant achievement in legal reforms that aligns with the Charter of Democracy, originally signed by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif in 2006.

He noted that this amendment aims to improve access to justice and expedite case processing. He mentioned that a special parliamentary committee, chaired by PPP leader Khurshid Shah, has been established to explore further legal reforms.

“If the parliament believes there’s a need for additional reforms, the committee should continue its work,” he said, reinforcing the importance of legislative development for democracy and parliamentary sovereignty.

In response to questions regarding the inclusion of Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar in the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Committee, Tarar stated the government has no concerns.

However, he expressed reservations about the Supreme Court’s July 12 verdict, which allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to retain reserved seats for minorities and women in parliament. 

He argued that the ruling overlooked constitutional provisions and urged the court to align its decisions with the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024. He also addressed PTI's stance, asserting that the party had previously engaged in discussions about the 26th Amendment and resolved its reservations. 

Tarar further criticised the PTI’s recent protests as attempts at "political point-scoring," noting that the party appears fragmented, with factions supporting different approaches.